Fatal attraction: Know this Goan ornamental plant

GARDEN BEAUTY

The Cascabela thevetia, locally known as Kanno or Kaner, with its bright funnel-shaped blossoms, can be a striking addition to any garden.

VIVID BLOSSOMS

Across Goa, the vibrant presence of these ornamental plants brings gardens to life, transforming ordinary spaces into colourful sanctuaries.

SILENT THREAT

The Kaner is a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America. Despite its captivating appearance, one must be very careful when touching, crushing, or ingesting even a small part of this plant.

SACRED OFFERING

It is a relative of Nerium oleander, which is largely used for temple offerings in South India.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

However, the tragic death of 24-year-old nurse Soorya Surendran from Kerala, who reportedly chewed a leaf and flower of Nerium oleander, brought attention to the plant's toxicity.

CAUTIONARY TALE

Following the death, several temple committees have imposed a ban on using oleander flowers during pujas, reflecting on the growing awareness of the plant's potential dangers.

BLOOMING DANGER

According to botany researchers, the leaves and flowers of oleander contain highly poisonous chemical substances that have direct, harmful effects on the heart.

DECEPTIVE

Despite its charm, ingesting even a small amount of oleander can be fatal and lead to the death of an adult human.

HARSH REALITY

Suryakant Gaokar, a naturalist from Bhuipal, Sattari, explained that the leaves of the orange species of this plant, Thevetia peruviana, were used in cow feed to kill cows that were infertile or didn’t produce milk.

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